Rare 'red sprite' spotted from International Space Station

Astronauts on board the International Space Station are treated to stunning views of Earth on a near daily basis, but a 'red sprite' could impress even the most jaded space traveler.

The spectacle is created when a short electric burst occurs above a highly active thunderstorm. Experts say this one is nearly six miles wide and 30 miles tall.

Nitrogen gas gives them their red color -- but when closer to a thunder cloud, they often look blue.

With its long tendrils, a red sprite looks like a giant red jelly fish in the sky. But, since they occur about 50 miles above the earth and are often obscured by storms, they're rarely seen on land.

Just another treat astronauts enjoy that us land-dwellers don't often get to see. Check out some of the other amazing sights from space in the gallery below:

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Stunning photos of earth from space

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Rare 'red sprite' spotted from International Space Station

A large lightning strike on Earth lights up solar panels on the International Space Station in this NASA picture taken by astronaut Kjell Lindgren released September 2, 2015. REUTERS/NASA/Kjell Lindgren/Handout via Reuters

A photo taken by Expedition 46 flight engineer Tim Peake of the European Space Agency (ESA) aboard the International Space Station shows Italy, the Alps, and the Mediterranean on January, 25, 2016. REUTERS/NASA/Tim Peake/Handout ATTENTION EDITORS - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A photo taken by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake aboard the International Space Station shows an Aurora over northern Canada, taken from a point just north of Vancouver, January 20, 2016. The Canadian Rockies, Banff and Jasper national parks are visible in the foreground. The Bright lights of Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary (left of center) are also visible. REUTERS/NASA/Tim Peake/Handout ATTENTION EDITORS - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home to Super Bowl 50, as seen from the International Space Station, February 7, 2016. Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly, who took the photo, wrote, "Got to see the #SuperBowl in person after all! But at 17,500MPH, it didn't last long." REUTERS/NASA/Scott Kelly/Handout ATTENTION EDITORS - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

The robotic arm in Japan's Kibo laboratory successfully deploys two combined satellites from Texas universities from the International Space Station, January 29, 2016. The pair of satellites -- AggieSat4 built by Texas A&M University students, and BEVO-2 built by University of Texas students -- together form the Low Earth Orbiting Navigation Experiment for Spacecraft Testing Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking (LONESTAR) investigation. REUTERS/NASA/Tim Peake/Handout ATTENTION EDITORS - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Scott Kelly ‏(@StationCDRKelly): "#Auckland #NewZealand, Sorry we don't see you much during your day but you look great down there. #YearInSpace"

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who recently past the halfway mark of his one-year mission on the International Space Station, photographed the Nile River during a nighttime flyover. Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) wrote, "Day 179. The #Nile at night is a beautiful sight for these sore eyes. Good night from @space_station! #YearInSpace." (Photo via NASA)

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly captured images and video from the International Space Station during an early morning flyover of the United States. Sharing with his social media followers, Kelly wrote, "Clear skies over much of the USA today. #GoodMorning from @Space_Station! #YearInSpace." (Photo via NASA)

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of small island cays in the Bahamas and the prominent tidal channels cutting between them. For astronauts, this is one of the most recognizable points on the planet.

The string of cays — stretching 14.24 kilometers (8.9 miles) in this image — extends west from Great Exuma Island (just outside the image to the right). Exuma is known for being remote from the bigger islands of The Bahamas, and it is rich with privately owned cays and with real pirate history (including Captain Kidd).

The Yarlung Zangpo Grand Canyon (or Tsangpo Gorge) in Tibet is the deepest canyon in the world, and longer than the Grand Canyon. February 25, 2004. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

The city of Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and lies along the Firth of Forth. April 29, 2006. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

The place in the United States where four states come together: the four corners area in the western United States. The states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico share a common point. June 11, 2001. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

Salzkammergut, Austria. Large parts of the region were listed as a World Heritage Site in 1997. June 22, 2003. Satellite image. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

UNITED STATES - JULY 18: A view of the Earth during a solar eclipse. The shadow of the Moon can be seen darkening part of Earth. This shadow moves across the Earth at nearly 2,000 kilometers per hour. Only observers near the center of the dark circle see a total solar eclipse - others see a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun appears blocked by the Moon. This spectacular picture of the Aug. 11, 1999 solar eclipse was one of the last ever taken from the Mir space station. Mir was decommissioned after more than ten years of use. *Image Credit*: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (Photo by NASA/SSPL/Getty Images)

IN SPACE - AUGUST 31: In this satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tropical Storm Ernesto (R) is shown at 9:45 am EDT is shown east of northern Florida while Hurricane John heads towards Mexico's west coast August 31, 2006. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)

AUGUST 11: This satellite handout from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Charley bearing down on Jamaica the morning of August 11, 2004. The storm is expected to cross through Jamaica and Cuba before making its way into the Gulf of Mexico later in the week. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)

Rub Al Khali, a sand desert South East of Saudi Arabia ; sand dunes are sculptured and moved by the winds, in blue the argillakeeous subsoil, and in white the salt crusts left out by the oueds in the rainy season., Rub Al Khali Desert, Saudi Arabia, True Colour Satellite Image (Photo by Planet Observer/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

UNSPECIFIED : Clouds and sunglint as seen during the STS-96 mission from the Space Shuttle Discovery. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES: A view of the Puna de Atacama area of Argentina 24 Janaury from US space shuttle Endeavour at an altitude of 160 nautical miles as part of EarthKAM involving 51 middle schools from three nations. Endeavour is docked with the Russian space station Mir for five days of joint science operations and transfer of supplies to the Russian space station. AFP PHOTO/NASA (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)